20. Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a hard team to figure out. Honestly, I could see them making the postseason or I could see them finishing in last place. The Flyers have enough strong pieces to be a contender, yet they still have enough question marks to make it very hard to buy into them.
Center Sean Couturier should be in the Selke Trophy discussion every year. He is marvelous on both ends of the ice. Couturier was a Selke finalist in 2017-18 and you could make the case he was even better defensively last season. The difference? Mediocre goaltending.
The Flyers set a record of ineptitude last season, as they had eight different goalies appear in a game, the most in NHL history. It’s pretty appropriate the Flyers hold that record, given their complicated history with goaltending.
That history might be over thanks to Carter Hart. He was thrown into the flames last season, making his NHL debut in just his first professional season. Hart was impressive last season despite not even being old enough to legally buy alcohol in the United States. If he takes a step forward, the Flyers could make a run for the postseason.
Ultimately, though, the Flyers defense will likely keep them from making the playoffs.